Israeli forces raided and took photos of Palestinian homes in the villages of Ma’in and Al Karmel, located respectively to the east and southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, while settlers performed religious rituals, said a local activist.Soldiers forced Palestinian locals out of their homes before breaking into, ransacking and taking photos of the homes, as well as of the entire area, according to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency.
Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli settlers, under the protection of soldiers, raided Al- Karmel and performed Talmudic rituals at some local archaeological sites.
Related — 05/09/14 Netanyahu: Talmud Will be the Basis of Israeli Law
According to Palestinian Village Profile information, Ma’in is surrounded in three directions by many illegal Israeli settlements and bypass roads. Three settlements lie to the east, two to the south and one to the west, with one bypass road to the east.
Additionally, two barriers of sand mounds were set up by Israeli forces, on the main road of the village.
WAFA further reports that, since the beginning of the Second Intifada, two houses were demolished and 150 dunums of land have been confiscated from the village.
The Palestinian Village Profile notes that Al Karmel has a long history, dating back to the Canaanite period. The name ‘Al Karmil’ is derived from a Canaanite word, which means “God’s Blessing”, and the village keeps its name until this day.
The residents of the village are indigenous to the area, while two illegal Israeli settlements, “Karmiel” and Ma’oun”, are situated to the East of the village.
Karmiel settlement occupies 1,500 dunams and Ma’een occupies 2,000 dunams. In addition, the area is surrounded by bypass ‘Route 60’ occupying 80 dunams to the east.
Israeli forces destroyed at least four housing units and/or structures belonging to local residents.
In related news, Israeli forces delivered demolition orders to three Palestinian families in the southern West Bank town of Ethna, on Thursday, according to the landowners.
Ma’an News Agency reports that Amjad Hilmi Nofal, owner of the one of the properties, said that his family of seven have lived in their home for 10 years, now.
Nofal’s brother, Awad, and his family of nine have lived in their home since 2007, while a third house additionally slated for demolition belongs to Arif Abd al-Hamid Abu Zalata.
The families reportedly received military orders to stop construction seven years ago and have been filing appeals with the Israeli Supreme Court ever since.
Mayor of Idhna, Hashim Tmeizi states that Israel is trying displace Palestinians from the town, with hundreds of families now threatened with demolition orders.
Ma’an further reports that the properties are located in Area C which, according to the Oslo Accords, is under full Israeli security and administrative control.
Approximately 27,000 Palestinian homes and structures have been demolished by Israel, since it occupied the West Bank in 1967.
Further info and links at: http://www.imemc.org/article/69168
